AQA GCSE Dance: Strategies for Success in the 2026 Exams

Course Code: T0288 £289.00

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This is an advanced course offering in-depth training for teachers looking for ideas which will help their students achieve at the highest levels on the written paper for GCSE Dance. The course is suitable for those new to teaching the specification as well as experienced teachers who are looking for fresh ideas for motivating students in what can be considered the “trickiest” area of the course. Sessions will target the skills needed to for the written component and offer practical and highly successful advice as to how to implement these ideas within the studio and classroom. Teachers will take away key approaches and practical strategies for maximising students’ ability to access the top grades in this component. The day includes strategic planning, fun and motivating ideas for delivery as well as exploring exemplar materials to gain confidence and understanding in marking and providing feedback. Suitable for all Dance specialists and PE teachers teaching the AQA GCSE Dance specification

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

  • Consider lessons learnt from the examination series in 2024 and how to apply these to your teaching and the preparation for your 2025/26 cohort and beyond.
  • Understand the requirements of the written paper with the opportunity for discussion and exploration of a range of strategies to improve your teaching further.
  • Gain fresh approaches in how to differentiate written work so that all learners achieve their potential
  • Explore exemplar materials to identify characteristics of outstanding work.
  • Take away key methods for ensuring students achieve grades 4-9 in GCSE Dance.

PROGRAMME

Moving forward and top tips for success

10.00am
  • Exploring the key messages from the examiners report 2024
  • Identifying and understanding the key priorities and challenges of the written paper
  • Understanding the demands of the paper and understanding what the stumbling blocks are for most students.
  • Understand the characteristics of a grade 7-9 student in the written paper

Break

10.45am

Sections A and B of the written paper: understanding the command words and suggested approaches for all learners

11.00am
  • Starting from the beginning of Year 10 – establishing the use of dance vocabulary from the word go through holistic teaching.
  • Top tips to maximise marks in this factual area of the exam.
  • Section B- it’s not as hard as it seems when using KEC!
  • Weaving the theory into the choreography and performance units to solidify learning and raise confidence amongst students

Section C, the anthology section 

12.00pm
  • How much do students need to know about each set work?
  • A step by step demonstration of the delivery of one set work.
  • Explore when and how to teach the set works with added complexity
  • Examining top grade exemplar responses – how to embed the academic rigour required to maximise marks
  • Understanding the demands of the 12 marks essay questions and tips on structure and how to plan for the unknown questions.

Lunch

1.00pm

Marking and feedback 

2.00pm
  • Understanding the mark scheme with exemplar scripts
  • Utilising the vocabulary of the mark scheme in formative and summative assessments.
  • ‘Moving beyond marking’: various ways in which teachers can interact with students to ensure understanding and progress.
  • Strategies for stretching 8/9 students in a mixed-ability classroom and challenging complacent high-achievers.
  • Utilising the vocabulary of the mark scheme in formative and summative assessments.

Break

2.45pm

Revision, retrieval and results 

2.50pm
  • Scaffolding techniques for retrieval and recall in preparation for all examination questions
  • Essay races and other tasks to help students with structure under timed conditions.
  • Predicting the paper: familiarise your students with the characteristics of previous exam questions.
  • Types of revision tasks that dancers like!
  • Where and how to connect with others to get help and support.

Depart

3.45pm pm
GCSE - Code: T0288

AQA GCSE Dance: Strategies for Success in the 2026 Exams

COURSE LEADER

Claire Noonan is an experienced Head of Dance, and has been teaching GCSE and A-Level Dance for over twenty years. GCSE Results for 2022 for her students were 39% grades 8 – 9, 50% grades 7 – 9 and 100% grades 5 – 9. Progress 8 score 1.45. At A Level her students attained 35% A*, 64% A*/A grades and 100 A* - C grades. She continually receives outstanding grade 1s on lesson observations.

She is a Specialist Leader in Education (SLE) and has improved the quality of dance provision in a number of schools. She also has a wealth of experience in working with a range of professionals to ensure her students feel inspired for dance theory and prepared for their future dance training.

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